Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson Resigns Ahead of Midterm Elections

Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced on June 3, 2026, that she will resign from her position, which is responsible for overseeing Texas's midterm elections. Her resignation is effective July 17, 2026. Nelson's departure follows notable outcomes in the May 26 Texas primary runoff elections, including the victory of Trump-endorsed state Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn and the defeat of Representative Al Green by Representative Christian Menefee after their districts were redrawn. Nelson did not provide a specific reason for her resignation but expressed pride in her service during a significant time for Texas. The Secretary of State in Texas is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate; Nelson was confirmed in 2023. Her responsibilities included managing voter registration and overseeing business incorporation. Under her leadership, Texas complied with a Department of Justice request to share voter rolls and implemented measures to verify the citizenship of voters, which has led to ongoing litigation. Nelson previously served for 30 years in the Texas Senate and is recognized as the longest-serving Republican woman in that body.